MoCA ratifies next gen home networking

MoCA the worldwide standard for home entertainment networking, has ratified its next-generation specification, MoCA 2.0.

Rob Gelphman, chair, marketing work group, MoCA told Broadband TV News that the new specification was now available to members. “We feel that all of these features are very impressive individually by themselves, but put them together and you really have a comprehensive package.”

The current MoCA protocol will sit alongside Wi-Fi in the new Liberty Global/UPC gateway, in the United States, DirecTV and Cox have included the specification in their multiroom DVRs, while Comcast and Time Warner are currently in advanced trials. “We’ve talked to UPC and many others and more than a few will be announced this year,” said Gelphman.

MoCA 2.0 offers two performance modes, Basic and Enhanced, with 400 Mbps and 800 Mbps net throughputs (MAC), using 700 Mbps and 1.4 Gbps PHY rates, respectively.  For point-to-point WAN applications, performance can be optimized for two node networks with Basic mode delivering 500 Mbps net throughput (MAC) and Enhanced mode providing 1 Gbps net throughput.

The new specification also features an expanded operating frequency range to serve an even broader array of use cases and two network wide, low power-saving modes.

Full backwards compatibility with MoCA 1.0 and 1.1 has been included.